Centering device for stop-cock boxes.



No. 820,616. PATENTED MAY15, 1906. J. B. BATT. GENTERING DEVICE FOR STOP COOK BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5,1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIOE.

;-, JOHN B. BATT, OF NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK.

v CENTERING DEVICE FOR STOP-COCK BOXES,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 1906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. BATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Tonawanda, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in vCentering Devices for Stop-Cock Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

It frequently happens that owing to carelessne'ss in placing stop-cock boxes they are not properly centered over the stop-cock, and sometimes frost heaves a box and displaces it laterally. In either case it is difficult to locate the usual T-head of the stopcock and engage a key or wrench therewith for turning 1t.

It is the object of my invention to provide a simple and inexpensive device for insuring the centering of the box over the stop-cock so that the head of the latter is always convenient of access.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a stop-cock and inclosing box provided with the improvement. Fig. 2 isa horizontal section taken immediately above the head of the stop-cock. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred centering device, showing its parts or disks separated. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of said disks as they appear when assembled. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation showing a modified construction of the centering device. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of said modification.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

A indicates the stop-cock of a gas or water service-pipe, and A its customary T- head. A is the stop-cock box, which is ordinarily of cylindrical form with the usual bifurcated lower end, which straddles the service-pipe.

In its preferred form the centering device of the box consists of a pair of superposed plates or disks B B, applied to the neck of the stop-cock and made of the proper diameter to permit the box to be easily placed over the same and yet prevent any considerable lateral play of the box with reference to the stop-cock. Each of these disks is provided with a transverse slot or recess 5, extending inwardly from its edge to a point beyond its center and adapted to receive the neck of the stop-cock, the slots being wide enough for this purpose, but narrower than the length of the T-head A. When the plates are applied to the stop-cock, the open ends of their slots or recesses face outwardly in opposite directions, their overlapping inner ends being semicircular and forming together a circular opening of the proper size to freely receive the neck of the stop-cock, but smaller than its T-head, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Each disk is provided at the inner end of its slot and in line with the same with a raised stop rib or lug O, which is constructed to fit into the outer portion of the slot of the opposing disk not occupied by the neck of the stop-cock. By thus interlocking the two plates they cannot turn on each other, keeping the open ends of the slots out of register and preventing the disks from sliding laterally out of engagement with the stop-cock.

As shown in Fig. 1, the lower disk rests upon the shoulder with which the plug is usually provided below its head.

When the disks are applied to the stopcock and the box is placed in position over the same, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the surrounding walls of the box prevent the disks from becoming displaced sidewise sufiiciently to permit their disengagement from the stopcock, while the disks by being confined on the stop-cock in turn prevent lateral displacement of the box in all directions, thus center- ,ing the box on the stop-cock and practically rendering it impossible to place the box over the stop-cock without centering it. The cock therefore is always located in the center of the box, where the usual key or wrench (shown by dotted linesin Fig .1) can be conveniently applied to its T-head. Aside from this advantage, the centering device also serves as a shield or closure which prevents the soil from working up through the open bottom of the box and entering the portion of the same above the stop-cock, leaving the box unobstructed and facilitating access to the cook.

The circular hole formed by the slots or recesses b of the centering-disks permits the plug of the stopcock to be freely turned, preventing binding of the same in case the dlsks should bear against the box.

The distance between the T-head and the provided with a diametrical slot 6',

just longenough to pass freely over the T- head of the stop-cock, and in interlocking the disks with the latter the lower disk B is first passed over the head and shifted laterally to bring the inner end of its slot against the adjacent side of the neck of the plug, after which the other disk is passed over the head and shifted in the opposite direction to bring the inner end of its slot against the other side of the neck. The solid portions of the disks are thus overlapped by the T-head, as shown Fig. 5, and as the disks are held from displacement when the box is placed over them they remain interlocked with the stop-cock and center the box on the latter. In this modification the disks are prevented from turning relatively to each other by the parallel sides of their slots which bear against the flat sides of the stop-cock neck.

My improved centering device is exceedingly simple in construction and can be cheaply produced and readily applied to a stop-cock.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of a stop-cock, a box inclosing the same, a centering device for the box consisting of a pair of plates or disks each having a, slot which receives the neck of. the stop-cock, said slots being of sufficient length to pass over the head of the cock and arranged to bear at their inner ends against different sides of the neck, and means for locking the plates against rotation relatively to each other, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a stop-cock, a box for inclosing the same, a centering device for the box consisting of a pair of plates each having a slot or recess which receives the neck of the stop-cock and extends inwardly beyond the center of the plate, and means for preventing relative rotation of the plates, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a stop-cock, a box for inclosing the same, a centering device for the box consisting of a pair of plates each having a slot or recess which extends inwardly from the edge of the plate to a point beyond its center, the slots of the two plates being arranged to face in opposite directions and their overlapping inner portions forming an opening which receives the neck of the stop-cock and means for interlocking said plates, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a stop-cock, a box for inclosing the same, and a centering device for the box consisting of a pair of plates, each having a slot which extends inwardly from the edge of the plate to a point beyond its center, and a stop-lug arranged to interlock with the slot of the other plate, the slots of I the; two plates facing in opposite directions and their overlapping inner portionsforming an opening which receives the neck of the stop-cock, substantially as set forth.

5. ,A centering device for a stop-cock box, consisting of a pair of disks constructed to fit into the box and each having a slot which extends inwardly beyond the center of the disk, said slots being of suflicient width to receive the neck of the stop-cock, but narrower than the length of its head, the disks being provided with means for interlocking the same, substantially as set forth.

6. A centering device for a stop-cockbox,

. consisting of a pair of disks constructed to fit.

into the box and each having a slot which extends inwardly beyond the center of the disk, and a stop-lug arranged at the inner endv of the slot and ada ted to interlock with the slot of the other dis said slots being of sufficient width to receive the neck of the stopcock but narrower than the length of its head, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 1st day of June, 1905.

JOHN B. B'ATT.

Witnesses:

C. F. GEYER, E. M. GRAHAM. 

